What does "paraphyletic" mean?

Of a defined group of taxa: not including all descendants of the most recent common ancestor of all members.

Paraphyletic

adj

adj ·Rare ·Advanced level

Adjective

1
Of a defined group of taxa: not including all descendants of the most recent common ancestor of all members. not-comparable

"Reptiles are paraphyletic with respect to birds."

From para- (“near”) + Ancient Greek φῦλον (phûlon, “tribe, race”) + -etic.